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Devdas Song Dola Re Dola Bags The Greatest Bollywood Number Title in a UK Poll

Devdas, a romantic saga directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali released in 2002 marking it to be one of the best Bollywood movies to have made it to the audience that year. It did not just win accolades from the critics and the viewers but also went on to grab five National awards, a nomination for BAFTA and a well-deserved entry into the Oscars. No matter how much you praise the movie, it is gonna fall short. After more than 15 years, the movie still is etched in the hearts of Bollywood fans and that is the reason why Dola Re Dola Song from this movie is now declared to be the greatest Bollywood Number in a UK poll.

Dola Re Dola Song from Devdas was in the headlines even when the song released in 2002. This sweet dance-off between two of the most beautiful superstars of Bollywood, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit was very much appreciated, for both the choreography and the music. It was choreographed by the yesteryear choreographer, Saroj Khan and it has after so long successfully defeated thousands of Bollywood dance numbers.

The UK based Eastern Eye Newspaper put out a new list of 50 Greatest Bollywood numbers recently and Dola Re Dola topped it. Mughal E-Azam’s Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya which even today resonates with many came in at the second place. Ek Do Teen, Madhuri Dixit’s another blockbuster song from the 1988 film, Tezaab followed and took the third place in the list. This poll was judged on the basis of public votes, the cinematic impact they had, choreography, and the opinions of dance experts.

Entertainment editor at Eastern Eye Newspaper who collected the information, Asjad Nazir and put out the results of the poll said,

“With Bollywood being built on a bedrock of music, dance has become an integral part of Hindi cinema across the decades and given audiences unforgettable moments.”

He added,

“The perfect Bollywood number needs an amazing set, incredible choreography, wonderful dancers, shining stars, beautiful costumes and a larger than life feel. It also needs to be a stand-out moment in the film and ‘Dola Re Dola’ has all that and more.”

Explaining further how the list was collated and how the songs were judged, Nazir said,

“The sheer variety in the list shows that Bollywood hasn’t just led the world with musicals, but with dance also. There is everything from Indian classical to western contemporary to out of the box ideas like a dance on top of a train. The list also shows how much dance has been used as a form of expression and liberation,”

Some of the popular songs that further made it to top 10 were Ek Pal Ka Jeena (4) Hothon Pe Aisi Baat (5) Dhoom 3 (6), Piya Tu Ab To Aaja from Caravan (7), Choli Ke Peeche from Khalnayak (8), Chhaiya Chhaiya from Dil Se (9) and Mehbooba Mehbooba from Sholay (10).

The IMDB plot summary of the movie, Devdas reads:

“After his wealthy family prohibits him from marrying the woman he is in love with, Devdas Mukherjee’s life spirals further and further out of control as he takes up alcohol and a life of vice to numb the pain.”